An Egyptian-born investor charged with inducing two FBI agents to join a stock scam
Really don't like the media's choice of wording. Stock scam? When I think "stock scam", I think about people lying to manipulate a stock in a direction that's profitable for them. Usually upwards. Unless I'm mistaken, Anthony hasn't been charged with ever making false statements about any companies. Although the allegation of purchaseable silence does come pretty close.
It'd be more accurate for these reporters to say he used illegal means to identify stock scams before anyone else so he could make the most profit.
In all but one of the allegations, he's basically accused of using illegal tactics to take money from bad people. Stock scamsters, for the most part.
The only allegation I see, if true, that could be called a "scam" is the one about extorting shares from companies. That would be the worst, as it would've hurt good people since his silence about known "scams" could've been bought. As a scam-buster, it's his duty to report ALL scams he encounters; not just the ones that didn't buy his silence. That's why that's the charge I most hope isn't proven.
And I certainly agree with the sentiment I'm seeing occasionally about the focus on him and seizure of his assets (To award to whom? Who was damaged? The CEO's of ADSX and NSOL?) when so much less is done to people who have screwed good people so much more thoroughly.
What kind of prison time is Blodgett facing? Or anyone at Merrill? How about the CEO's of DGIV, MTEI, RMIL, AZNT, etc, etc, ad infinitum?
Personally, if Blodgett isn't facing prison time, then I don't think Anthony should serve a day or lose one cent of his assets. If the one charge is proven true, I'll be thoroughly disgusted, as it'll make him a peer of the above-named, but I don't see why he's being considered worse than them.
Anyone have any thoughts why a few companies are mentioned anonymously but only NSOL is named? Personally, I'm really curious what the tickers are for the other companies. And I'd especially love to know which companies comprised this consortium of companies who decided to speculate to the Feds that Anthony was tied to the 9/11 attacks.
The guy is far from being a saint, and I personally trust him about as far as I can throw him, but Breen was very irresponsible and he and the media are quick to try to sensationalize this into something it isn't. |
